Billiard training ball

ABSTRACT

A mostly transparent billiard ball particularly useful as a training cue ball is disclosed. The ball includes an inner core centered within a sufficiently transparent spherical outer covering that provides an optimum zone, visible to the player, at which he or she can aim the tip of a cue stick. This inner zone is especially serviceable to restrict a player&#39;s aim when striking the ball off-center in order to effectively impart sidespin while limiting lateral deflection to the ball. The inner zone may also simply assist the player to determine the ball&#39;s exact center when striking the ball in order to accurately impart no sidespin. In either case, cueing technique is enhanced and the player practices with consistency. The centered inner core also provides enough mass to bring the training ball to within an acceptable weight range for casual and professional levels of play.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTINGCOMPACT DISC APPENDIX

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) The U.S. patent code classifications that are applicable to this newinvention:

Class 473: Games Using Tangible Projectile

-   -   Subclass 1: Billiards or Pool        -   Subclass 2: Practice device or device to aid in aiming cue            or cue ball during shots.        -   Subclass 52: Ball; Subject matter relating to the structural            details of a generally spherical member (i.e. a ball) which            is spherically adapted for use in playing a game of            billiards or pool.

(2) The present invention pertains to the field of sports generallyreferred to as “billiards,” and specifically to an improved type of “cueball” for training purposes.

(3) Billiards is widely recognized as comprising all games played onflat level tables edged with rails or cushions using balls struck by cuesticks. The cue sticks, balls, and tables can all vary in size; thetable may include pocket(s) or none at all. The cue ball is distinctiveand essential to all billiard games, since it is initially struck by thecue stick during play. Cue balls are typically manufactured in an opaquewhite color, and are usually made the same size and weight as all theother balls of the same set designated for a particular game.

(4) The origin of billiards is obscure, although many historiansattribute its roots to stem from Europe circa late 17th century orperhaps even earlier. Over the years, billiards has evolved intobranches of many different games. Today, billiards is divided into twobasic disciplines: “pocket billiards,” (i.e., billiard games played ontables with pockets); and “carom billiards,” (i.e., billiard gamesplayed on tables without pockets). Pocket billiards is a popular form ofrecreation called “pool” that spans across the United States and manyother countries throughout the world. Another prevalent pocket billiardgame is “snooker” which is devoutly played in the United Kingdom andusually in other countries that have or had British influence. Carombilliards has considerable acceptance with participation in diversenations on several continents as well. Carombole or carombola, Frenchbilliards, three-cushion billiards, or just simply “billiards” are someof the common names by which carom billiards is called.

(5) To partake of billiard games with proficiency, a player shouldpossess good physical dexterity and develop good hand-eye coordination,not to mention have clever strategy. It is paramount in any cueing sportor game to be able to swing a cue stick and then strike a cue ball withaccuracy, in order to produce a desired result. The desired result inboth pool and snooker is usually to pocket an object ball, but it maysimply be to direct the cue ball to a specific location. In carombilliards, of course, no pocketing of balls is involved since caromtables contain no pockets; simply shooting at the cue ball to contactanother ball or a rail are the usual cases. In any event, developingadeptness of striking the cue ball and applying spin when necessary,compounded by a consistency to do so are key factors to successfulcueing.

(6) In billiards, as with any sport involving balls and other movingobjects, the laws of physics and geometry govern or describe actions andoutcomes during play. Although a skilled billiard player does notnecessarily have to formally study science and/or math per se to becomeas such, he or she does have to at least intuitively, if notconsciously, learn both the subtle and dramatic effects of collisions ofthe cue stick with the cue ball, the cue ball with other balls, andballs with cushions. How friction affects the way balls roll on thecloth of the table, or simply how humidity and temperature affect theplaying equipment are further learning considerations. After many hoursof practice, a player can program the brain through trial and error,adjust to the environment, and improve skills without realizing it. Thisnatural learning process does not preclude that some players may learnfaster if proper training methods, means, and scientific andmathematical knowledge are availed to them.

(7) To more fully fathom the fundamental elements of my billiardtraining ball, it is necessary to elaborate upon a critical aspect ofbilliard balls in motion, namely “spin.” Spin is called “english” in theU.S. or “side” (short for sidespin) in the U.K. If a cue stickhorizontally strikes a cue ball, parallel with the table and preciselydead center, the cue ball will initially be directed forward with norotational spin. If the cue ball is again centrally struck, but noweither at the bottom or top, no sideways rotational spin will begenerated, only spin conveyed toward the cue stick or away from it,respectively. The backward motion of the cue ball is commonly called“draw,” and “low” or “bottom” english in the U.S. and “screw” in theU.K. The forward motion is known as “follow,” “topspin,” and also as“top” or “high” english in the U.S. The preponderance of players concurthat center-hits (refer to FIG. 2) are the ideal way to strike the cueball for the greatest likelihood of it reaching the desired target, forreasons to be elucidated later. In many instances, billiards requiresthat the cue ball be driven in a manner that a center-ball hit cannotaccomplish. In those situations, left- or right-hand english must beadministered to the cue ball so as to alter its natural heading and/ormanner of rolling, especially when the cue ball glances off the rails.In pool, this action plan has taken on the slang phrasing of “playingposition” or “setting up” with the cue ball for subsequent play, inorder to gain strategic advantage. A master player adroitly incorporatesstriking the cue ball left or right in varying degrees of high or low inorder to achieve such a goal. As will be explained in the followingtext, it is frequently this imparting of particularly left or right spin(sidespin) on the cue ball that can produce an unwanted or undesirableoutcome, for the novice and champion alike.

(8) Another crucial element that is necessary to fully grasp my billiardtraining ball is that of the effect of a cue stick colliding with a cueball, aptly described in pool as “deflection” or more colloquially as“squirt” (refer to FIGS. 3, 4, & 5). Attempting to create sidespin bystriking the left side of the cue ball forces it to veer slightly to theright, and vice versa. Attempting to create spin by centrally strikingthe top of the cue ball forces it downward into the table, and viceversa. These up and down vertical deflections are neutral or negligibleto the accuracy of hitting the target, and will be disregarded in thistreatise. Deflection noted herein should be understood as lateral orsideways deflection.

(9) Deflection is an oblique linear path away from parallel with the cuestick that the cue ball takes after being struck on the side by the tipof the cue stick. It may also be described as the action of the tippushing the cue ball to the side after their collision, or alternatelyas the action of the cue ball pushing the tip and cue stick to the side.A physicist might describe deflection as a mutual sideways vector forcebetween the tip of the cue stick and the cue ball without motive imputedto either one. In this balanced scientific logic, deflection obeys theLaw of Conservation of Momentum and Newton's Second Law of Motion.Nonetheless, this “squirt” effect propels the cue ball off to the sideon a heading that is slightly aslant from the direction that the playermay have originally intended. When contacting the cue ball farther onthe side (i.e., more eccentrically off-center) in order to yield evenmore spin, the amount of deflection will increase (refer to FIGS. 3 &4). Bob Jewett, a scientist and accomplished billiard player whoauthoritatively writes about the science of billiards, assented in theSeptember, 2002 issue of Billiards Digest that, “As far as we know, twotips of English will produce twice the squirt angle of one tip.”

(10) Phil Capelle authored a book entitled “Play Your Best Pool” inwhich he presents the results of a controlled experiment that heconducted to measure deflection. He concluded that hitting the cue balltwice as far off-center can produce anywhere from two to three times asmuch deflection, depending on the speed of stroke with the cue stick.

(11) Capelle deduced from his trials that swinging the cue stick fasterincreases its momentum and the force applied to the cue ball whenstruck, and consequently the amount of cue ball deflection. Jewett inthe aforementioned Billiards Digest article cites Mike Page who observedin his experiments that there is a considerable change in squirt withthe speed of shot. To the contrary however, Ron Shepard, the author of“Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Cue Ball Squirt, But WereAfraid to Ask,” from his own calculations disagrees. Irrespective ofwhich component is in fact a contributor, a hard blow to the side of thecue ball from a cue stick will produce noticeable or even startlingsquirt.

(12) There are other factors that influence deflection to varyingdegrees. The mass of the cue stick shaft, mostly within a few inches ofthe tip does so significantly; and to a lesser degree the size, shape,and hardness of the tip. Experts in the field undeniably agree thatthese and any additional factors are not as impacting as theabove-mentioned striking location on the cue ball. Jewett notes in hisarticle that, “Squirt has been found to vary due to many factors. Thelargest effect is from the amount of tip offset (side spin).”

(13) Researchers in the field have also determined that the actual angleof lateral deflection can be up to four degrees from the direction ofthe cue stick. Across the entire length of an eight-, nine-, ten-, or12-foot billiard table, this angle, albeit small, can translate intoseveral inches by which a player can miss the intended target. In gameaction, when continually only a small fraction of an inch may becritical to hitting the target or not, serious attention must be givento any amount of deflection. Since deflection angles are very acute (≦4degrees), FIGS. 3, 4, & 5 illustrate slightly exaggerated deflectionangles for ease of distinction.

(14) It is important to note that the angle of deflection has littlesignificance if the intended target or object ball is very close, withina few inches of the cue ball. Conversely, when the target is far awayfrom the cue ball, several or many feet away, even though the angle ofdeflection basically remains constant, the cue ball with every inchtraversed will diverge from its target more and more (refer to FIG. 5).

(15) I stated above that the deflection angle “basically remainsconstant” because the resultant direct trajectory of the cue ball whilein motion can be altered. The friction produced by the spinning cue ballon the cloth of the billiard table will make the cue ball swerve. Forexample, a baseball drastically rotating after leaving the pitcher'shand will slice through the air and curve from the friction of the air,in much the same manner as a cue ball will curve on the billiard table.Usually only excessive spin across several feet can dramatically producethis effect, “massé” strokes notwithstanding. (A massé shot is anatypical billiard stroke where the cue stick is directed downward uponthe cue ball, even perpendicular to the table, and produces an immediateexaggerated spin.) Since the cue ball is always initially set into alinear motion after being struck, for the purpose of this discourse,subsequent cue ball swerve from spin or massé will be disregarded, andthe trajectory of deflection will rightly be considered as constant.Hence, an essential technique for increasing accuracy of all shots,especially medium- to long-range, is to limit sideways cue balldeflection while achieving a minimum yet effective amount of sidespinupon the cue ball.

(16) Having described deflection or squirt in laymen's terms, one maybetter appreciate the difficulty a billiard player encounters striking acue ball to impart sidespin and allow for deflection, while producingthe calculated result.

(17) It is interesting to note that as yet, there is no way to distillthe governing scientific principles and formulas into a foolproof aimingsystem when applying sidespin to the cue ball; the variables are toocomplex. The best one can do is teach the human brain to limit some, ifnot one of the major variables (i.e., deflection), in order to increasecueing accuracy. It would be greatly advantageous to the cueist to beable to practice in such a controlled and effectual manner. This iswhere my new training ball could be engaged in a successful guidingrole. Using such an ideal training ball over sufficient practice timeshould hone the aiming/striking technique within the mind and body. Whensimilarly striking a standard cue ball during play, deflection willthereby also be limited, thus increasing the percentage of hitting themark at all times.

(18) Favorably, my billiard training ball is versatile in design to beadapted for use with billiard games played on any table, both with andwithout pockets, since the fundamental structural elements areapplicable to any size cue ball. The scope of billiard players thatwould benefit from this novel training ball is broad in skill level ofthe players and global in geography.

(19) For those wishing to gain further insight into the fundamentals andscience of billiards, refer to the following publications (listed inalphabetical order by the primary author's surname). Page numbers citedrelate specifically to the problematic effect of deflection.

Robert Byrne, “Byrne's Advanced Technique in Pool and Billiards,”Harcourt Brace & Company 1990, Orlando, Fla., page 68.

Phil Capelle, “Play Your Best Pool,” Billiards Press 1995, Midway City,Calif., pages 92-93.

Arthur Cranfield & Laurence S. Moy, “Essential Pool,” Lyons Press 2002,Guilford, Conn., pages 98-99.

George Fels, “Advanced Pool,” Contemporary Books 1995, Lincolnwood,Ill., page 30.

Joe Hardesty, “Simply Pool,” Burford Books 1998, Springfield, N.J.,pages 56-57.

Bob Jewett, Billiards Digest, September, 2002, Luby Publishing Inc.,Chicago, Ill., pages 24-25.

Gerry Kanov & Shari Stauch, “Precision Pool,” Human Kinetics 1999,Champaign, Ill., pages 68-69.

Jack Koehler, “The Science of Pocket Billiards,” Sportology Publications1995, Laguna Hills, Calif., pages 69-71.

Ewa Laurance & Thomas C. Shaw, “Idiot's Guide to Pool and Billiards,”Alpha Books 1999, Indianapolis, Ind., pages 197-200.

Jeanette Lee & Adam Scott Gershenson, “The Black Widow's Guide to KillerPool,” Three Rivers Press 2000, NY, N.Y., page 79.

Steve Mizerak, “Winning Pool Tips,” Contemporary Books 1995,Lincolnwood, Ill., pages 8-9.

Willie Mosconi, “Willie Mosconi on Pocket Billiards,” Three Rivers Press1959, NY, N.Y., page 42.

Ron Shepard, “Amateur Physics for the Amateur Pool Player,”Self-published 1997, Argonne, Ill., pages 3,4,& 11-13.

Ron Shepard, “Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Cue BallSquirt, But Were Afraid to Ask,” Self-published 2001, Argonne, Ill.,pages 1-19.

Mike Sigel, Billiards Digest, August, 2002, Luby Publishing Inc.,Chicago, Ill., page 18.

(20) Prior to my billiard training ball, a number of aiming devices(nine referenced) and training cue balls (six referenced) have beendeveloped and patented. The aiming devices are not directly relevant tothe present invention since they rely on external means independent froma cue ball. Nonetheless, these patents are later referenced in thisdocument.

(21) There are training cue balls found in the prior art that are moredirectly related to the present invention. Some of these cue balls aredesigned to work in tandem with a training object ball as an aimingsystem, such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,401,215, 6,364,783, and 5,716,283. In aprimary functional sense; however, these inventions do not transcend thebounds of two-dimensional targeting.

(22) U.S. Pat. No. 5,401,215, issued to Pfost in 1995, strictlyincorporates an object ball coated with a surface pattern of coloreddots at which to aim.

(23) U.S. Pat. No. 6,364,783, issued to Kellogg in 2002, employs atransparent cue ball and object ball system for sighting through bothballs. While this system “secondhandedly” incorporates three dimensions,it mostly uses two-dimensional leveling points on each ball's surfaceand it neglects the matter of deflection.

(24) U.S. Pat. No. 5,716,283, issued to Simpson in 1998, also does notoffer a remedy to limit deflection after aiming and striking since ittoo uses surface patterns on both the cue ball and object ball. Thisdocument does, nevertheless, acknowledge the effect of deflection fromstriking the cue ball off-center. In “Exercise 5” of the “Examples”section it states that the cue ball “squirts” to the side when applyingsidespin and warns that, “The addition of a spin or “english” componentto the motion of the cueball complicates the shot and therefore is to beavoided unless absolutely necessary.”

(25) There are two solo training cue balls noted in the prior art thatalso exhibit only surface markings on the circumference of the cue ball:U.S. Pat. No. 3,993,305 issued to Nicholson in 1976 and U.S. Pat. No.D393,672 issued to Clay in 1998.

(26) Two additional billiard balls in the prior art utilize distinctivesystems in order to enhance targeting. The contraption of U.S. Pat. No.5,322,475, issued to Irvin in 1994, has a level inserted into the cueball and a perpendicular target attached at which to aim when applyingspin. The contrivance of U.S. Pat. No. 3,630,601, issued to Lehovec in1971, has a photoelectric lighting system implanted in the interior of abilliard ball for illustration of how balls roll. While unique andcurious, these two inventions also do not directly address the effect ofdeflection after striking the cue ball.

(27) It is important to note that in the prior art there is U.S. Pat.No. 4,116,439, issued to Chavarria and Foster in 1978, that describeswithin its text the “molding process” to place opaque objects in thecenter of transparent billiard balls. The document's “Summary of theInvention,” states, “It has been found that using the techniques of thisinvention and the mold apparatus, virtually any opaque may be placed atthe center of the transparent sphere, so that the ball may haveparticular use, for example, for advertising promotion of products orsimply for providing game balls having a distinctive appearance.” Whilethis patent in the “Summary of the Invention” envisions “particular use”for a centered opaque object within a transparent ball, it does notspecifically cover a use for “training” or “aiming” within the “Claims”or any other sections of the patent.

(28) Two other inventions tangentially related to transparent ballsexist which contain imbedded objects: U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,649,874 issued toHeadford in 1997 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,217,806 issued to Baxley in 2001.These two patents solely relate to the manufacturing process of suchtransparent balls, and do not encompass any other purpose.

(29) All of the prior art have not provided a remarkable method foraiming, in a prevailing three-dimensional sense, with regards toinitiating sidespin and limiting deflection to the cue ball. The priorinventions rely almost entirely upon coaching marks inscribed upon thecircumference of the cue ball in two dimensions. Some schematic artreferenced above will show you where to aim by centrally striking thecue ball, or where to aim on the surface of the cue ball in order toindependently apply sidespin without adjusting for deflection; however,none will show you where to definitively aim when taking into accountthe two parameters of both spin and deflection.

(30) The constraints of the prior art have led to its inability tosuccessfully instruct a billiard player on how to effectively impartsidespin and limit cue ball deflection in order to achieve the desiredresult.

(31) A further shortcoming of prior billiard training balls is that theyalways have to be adjusted on each and every shot, so as to re-aligntheir two-dimensional surface patterns. They fail to allow a player topractice in an uninterrupted manner. My training ball eliminates thenecessity of such bothersome re-orientation and constantly reveals theoptimum zone at which to aim when applying spin, if desired. The logicalassumption is that the inner core would be made spherical, creating auniform geometric shape at which to aim from any orientation of the cueball after it comes to rest.

(32) U.S. patent Document References: Training Billiard Cue Balls andObject Balls: 3,993,305 Donald Nicholson Nov. 23, 1976 473/2 5,322,475Barry L. Irvin Jun. 21, 1994 473/52 5,401,215 R. Fred Pfost Mar. 28,1995 473/2 5,716,283 Thomas E. Simpson Feb. 10, 1998 473/2 6,364,783Jack Kellogg Apr. 2, 2002 473/2 D393,672 David Clay Apr. 21, 1998 21/204Billiard Aiming Devices: 3,411,779 Donald K. McGowan Nov. 19, 1968 473/23,630,601 Kurt Lehovec Dec. 28, 1971 473/125, 200 3,711,091 James E.Dixon Jan. 16, 1973 473/2 3,843,120 Vero Ricci Mar. 4, 2003 473/2, 523,947,026 Robert J. Scoutten Mar. 30, 1976 473/236 4,151,990 FrederickG. Josenhans Mar 1, 1979 473/2, 268, 279 4,268,033 Paul E. Fontaine May19, 1981 473/2 5,597,360 Philip J. Freedenberg Jan. 28, 1997 473/26,527,647 Robert W. Ringeisen Mar. 4, 2003 473/2, 52 Molding Devices forTransparent Balls: 4,116,439 Robert James Chavarria Sep. 26, 1978264/245, 250, Clark Berg Foster 275, 299; 473/52 5,649,874 Stephen J.Headford Jul. 22, 1997 40/327; 264/239; 273/Dig. 14; 428/13; 473/5696,217,806 Donald M. Baxley Apr. 17, 2001 264/161, 255, 273, 275; 264/279.1

(33) International Intellectual Property References: (None found torelate to the present invention.)

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

(34) The present invention may be summarized as a transparent billiardcue ball with an opaque inner core to be used for training and aimingpurposes primarily when attempting to apply sidespin and limitdeflection to the cue ball, and secondarily to focus on the ball'sprecise center when applying no spin. In accordance with the abovethesis, it is an object of the exemplary design to improve a billiardplayer's cueing technique and maintain consistency thereof, whereheretofore training balls have remained delinquent.

(35) Primary advantages of my billiard training ball:

(36) The ball trains the player to aim at a central core of optimumdiameter, or more correctly phrased, “an image of a central core,” inorder to minimize lateral cue ball deflection after striking whileimplementing sufficiently effective sidespin (refer to FIG. 3). I statedthe “image” of the core because of the illusory, yet existent phenomenonof light refraction. For example, if I determined that the optimum innercore should appear 26 mm in diameter, the tangible inner core in realitywould be designed smaller, about 18 or 19 mm in diameter. The refractionof light through the ball's curved transparent outer shell will magnifythe image of the inner core, approximately one-and-a-half times, andcause the inner core to appear larger, in exactly the same manner aswith a common magnifying glass. Whereas the refraction of light may be acritical design consideration, whether illusory or not, it does notconflict with the inner core's feasible aiming rationale.

(37) The above mentioned hypothetical inner core diameter appearance of26 mm, which expectedly has a radius of 13 mm (i.e., the diameter of atypical pool tip) is not an arbitrary guess. Most pool and carombilliard players use cue tip diameters sized from 11 to 14 mm, thatcompute to a mean diameter of about 12.75 to 13 mm.

(38) The deceased legendary champion, Willie Mosconi, in his classicbook “Willie Mosconi on Pocket Billiards” stated that, “Most billiardauthorities insist that all the English necessary for 99 percent ofbilliard shots can be applied by striking the cue ball no more than acue tip-width from the exact center of the ball.” Then he summed it upwith, “My experience in 15 years of world's championship play convincedme that the cue-tip-width-from-center-of-the-ball rule is right.” Manygreat players today religiously adhere to this premise, like the morerecent dominant World Champion, Mike Sigel, who has stated as such manytimes over the years in Billiards Digest. In his column in the August,2002 issue, he echoes Willie Mosconi's above theorem with, “ . . . Ilike to use only about ½ to 1 tip's-width left or right of center formuch better accuracy to pocket the ball. That's all the English youwould even need for ninety percent of position shots, using the rails.”He then apprises, “Using extreme English on a tough shot is a verydangerous decision for anyone.” Steve Mizerak, a very well-respectedchampion himself, recently expressed that, “Mike Sigel is the bestplayer breathing on earth.” Willie Mosconi is considered by most playersto be the greatest pool player that ever lived. I am confident that thesuperior expert agreement of both Willie Mosconi and Mike Sigel furthervalidates the practical concept of my billiard training ball with anoptimally sized inner core.

(39) The ball also trains the player to aim at the image of the centralcore in order to assist the player in determining the absolute center ofthe cue ball when not applying sidespin to the cue ball. While thepresent invention is particularly useful when applying sidespin, itcould still help narrow a player's field of vision to focus on a smallercentral zone, like a bull's-eye does within a target for archery.

(40) The ball allows the player to continuously practice withoutstopping to re-align the cue ball with every shot, thus simulatingnormal play and affording the player the opportunity to maintainuninterrupted concentration to improve skill.

(41) The ball allows the inner opaque core to be made of a substantiallydense material in order to compensate for any lacking weight of thetransparent outer shell, thereby bringing the cue ball to an acceptablecustomary total weight. Totally transparent cue balls are nearly 25%lighter than standard professional opaque cue balls. Dense materialssuch as steel or lead that are at least 25% heavier than a transparentmaterial such as acrylic would readily compensate for lost weight,thereby bringing the training cue ball to within a regulation range,regardless of ball size.

(42) The ball allows a perfectly centered inner core to maintain acenter of mass that facilitates a cue ball to roll in a true mannerwithout noticeable wobble. This characteristic would equal therotationally stable roll of a standard cue ball made from a homogeneousmaterial.

(43) Secondary advantages of my billiard training ball:

(44) The ball allows the inner core to be designed slightly smaller forexpert players or slightly larger for beginners, so as to match variouslevels of players' proficiencies.

(45) The ball allows the inner core to be proportionally adapted todifferently sized cue balls of various billiard games: snooker balls areabout 2{fraction (1/16)} (2.0625) inches in diameter; pool balls areabout 2¼ (2.25) inches in diameter; and carom billiard balls are about2⅜ (2.375) inches in diameter.

(46) The ball also permits the inner core to be optimally adjustedrelative to the cue stick tip sizes employed in various billiard games.For example, snooker cue sticks use an average tip diameter of about 9.5mm; pool and carom billiard cue sticks both use a tip diameter sizeabout 12.75 to 13 mm in diameter.

(47) The ball lends to the possibility of adopting a small transparentinterior shell of a different color or aspect that would appear like aspherical halo around the inner core, acting as a warning or danger zoneof increased deflection.

(48) Finally, the training ball's marble-like design does not precludeincorporating conventional two-dimensional aiming patterns within, ifdeemed beneficial. The inner core and/or the outer covering couldinclude markings to delineate aiming quadrants for inducing spin, or tosimply demonstrate the rolling of the ball, with or without sidespin.While occasionally employing these markings would require cue ballre-alignment on each shot, their presence would not prohibituninterrupted practice when ignoring them and otherwise aiming at theinner core.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

(49) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of my new billiard training ballresting on the playing surface of a standard pool table.

(50) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the training ball revealing thedirect heading it would take from a center-ball stroke of a cue stick.

(51) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the training ball revealing thegeneralized sidespin and deflection that would result from an off-centerstroke of a cue stick toward the inner core.

(52) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the training ball revealing thegeneralized increased sidespin and widened deflection that would resultfrom an off-center stroke of a cue stick toward the outer covering.

(53) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the training ball aligned with twoobject balls, revealing the long-range deflection that would result froman off-center stroke of a cue stick toward the outer covering. (N.B.,Sidespin is not depicted in this drawing in order to emphasize thelong-range effect of deflection only, even though increased sidespinwould be generated on the cue ball in this case, as in FIG. 4.)

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(54) Reference numerals for drawings 1-5:

-   -   6 billiard training ball    -   7 opaque inner core    -   8 transparent outer covering    -   9 circumference    -   10a,b object ball    -   11 cue stick (i.e., portion thereof)    -   12 standard pool table (i.e., portion thereof)    -   13 planar surface    -   14 right side rail    -   15 right corner pocket    -   16 end rail    -   17 left corner pocket    -   18 left side rail    -   19a,b sidespin    -   20 direct alignment    -   21a,b,c,d direction of deflection    -   α angle of deflection    -   β angle of deflection    -   θ angle of deflection

(55) The above features and advantages of the present invention, abilliard training ball, will become more apparent and be readilyappreciated through the following detailed description of the preferredembodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings:

(56) FIG. 1: A billiard training ball 6 is shown in perspective viewwith a portion of a cue stick 11 poised and aligned for a pool shot withball 6 and an object ball 10 a toward a right corner pocket 15. Forillustration, balls 6 and 10 a are shown as disposed upon a portion of astandard pool table 12 having a planar surface 13 supporting them. Balls6 and 10 a have a generally spherical outer surface, as shown by anequal circumference 9. Ball 6 features a centered opaque inner core 7and a transparent outer covering 8. Looking additionally to FIG. 1,wherein table 12 is shown having surface 13 bounded by a right side rail14 and an end rail 16 that include pocket 15 between them;

(57) FIG. 2: Ball 6 is shown in perspective view on table 12 with cuestick 11 poised and aligned for a shot with balls 6 and 10 a toward rail16. For illustration, balls 6 and 10 a are shown as disposed upon table12 having surface 13 supporting them. Balls 6 and 10 a have a generallyspherical outer surface as shown by their equal circumference 9. Cuestick 11 is aimed in a direct alignment 20 with balls 6 and 10 a. Cuestick 11 is also centrally aimed toward the bottom of core 7 throughcovering 8 and hypothetically imparts force upon ball 6, as with anytypical pool shot. The drawing demonstrates a straight deflectiondirection 21 a resulting from such force that coincides with alignment20. Looking additionally to FIG. 2, wherein table 12 is shown havingsurface 13 bounded by rail 14, a left side rail 18, and rail 16 thatinclude pocket 15 and a left corner pocket 17 adjacent to them;

(58) FIG. 3: Ball 6 is shown in perspective view on table 12 with cuestick 11 poised and aligned for a shot with balls 6 and 10 a toward rail16. For illustration, balls 6 and 10 a are shown as disposed upon table12 having surface 13 supporting them. Balls 6 and 10 a have a generallyspherical outer surface as shown by their equal circumference 9. Cuestick 11 is aimed parallel to alignment 20, and left-of-center at core 7through covering 8 and hypothetically imparts force upon ball 6, as withany typical pool shot. The drawing demonstrates the generalizedresultant effects from such force of both a sidespin 19 a and a skeweddeflection direction 21 b to ball 6. An angle of deflection α representsthe constant angle formed by deflection 21 b with alignment 20. Lookingadditionally to FIG. 3, wherein table 12 is shown having surface 13bounded by rails 14, 16, and 18 that include pockets 15 and 17 adjacentto them;

(59) FIG. 4: Ball 6 is shown in perspective view on table 12 with cuestick 11 poised and aligned for a shot with balls 6 and 10 a toward rail16. For illustration, balls 6 and 10 a are shown as disposed upon table12 having surface 13 supporting them. Balls 6 and 10 a have a generallyspherical outer surface as shown by their equal circumference 9. Cuestick 11 is aimed parallel to alignment 20 and eccentricallyleft-of-center at covering 8 outside of core 7, and hypotheticallyimparts force upon ball 6, as with any typical pool shot. The drawingdemonstrates the generalized resultant increased effects of a skeweddeflection direction 21 c and sidespin 19 a augmented by a sidespin 19 bthat would result from such force on ball 6. An angle of deflection β(wider than angle α of FIG. 3) represents the constant angle formed bydeflection 21 c with alignment 20. Looking additionally to FIG. 4,wherein table 12 is shown having surface 13 bounded by rails 14, 16, and18 that include pockets 15 and 17 adjacent to them; and

(60) FIG. 5: Ball 6 is shown in perspective view on table 12 with cuestick 11 poised and aligned for a shot with balls 6 and 10 a, and anobject ball 10 b, toward rail 16. For illustration, balls 6, 10 a, and10 b are shown as disposed upon table 12 having surface 13 supportingthem. Balls 6, 10 a, and 10 b have a generally spherical outer surfaceas shown by their equal circumference 9. Cue stick 11 is aimed parallelto alignment 20 and eccentrically right-of-center at covering 8 outsideof core 7. The hypothetically imparted force on ball 6 from cue stick 11would produce a generalized deflection direction 21 d. This skewed pathof deflection 21 d is theoretically shown passing through closer ball 10a, then going on to pass by farther ball 10 b, thus demonstrating anever widening path away from alignment 20. An angle of deflection θ(about twice as wide as angle α in FIG. 3 and similar to angle β in FIG.4 depending on any additional variables) represents the constant angleformed by deflection 21 d with alignment 20. Looking additionally toFIG. 5, wherein table 12 is shown having surface 13 bounded by rails 14,16, and 18 that include pockets 15 and 17 adjacent to them.

1. A billiard training ball having a spherical outer surface,comprising: (a) an opaque round inner core that visibly serves as atarget at which to aim a cue stick when addressing said billiardtraining ball, and (b) a transparent outer covering, surrounding andencasing said inner core, wherein said outer covering displays saidinner core and provides an outer surface circumference, whereby saidbilliard training ball can be used as a device to practice cueingtechnique when striking said outer surface of said billiard trainingball with the cue stick directed toward said inner core, in order toimpart spin or no spin while limiting deflection to said billiardtraining ball.
 2. A billiard training ball having a spherical outersurface, comprising: (a) a translucent round inner core, that visiblyserves as a target at which to aim a cue stick when addressing saidbilliard training ball, and (b) a translucent outer covering,surrounding and encasing said inner core, wherein said outer coveringdisplays said inner core and provides an outer surface circumference,whereby said billiard training ball can be used as a device to practicecueing technique when striking said outer surface of said billiardtraining ball with the cue stick directed toward said inner core, inorder to impart spin or no spin while limiting deflection to saidbilliard training ball.
 3. A billiard training ball having a sphericalouter surface, comprising: (a) an opaque and translucent inner corehaving a predetermined size, that visibly serves as a target at which toaim a cue stick when addressing said billiard training ball, and (b) atransparent and translucent outer covering, surrounding and encasingsaid inner core, wherein said outer covering displays said inner coreand provides an outer surface circumference, whereby said billiardtraining ball can be used as a device to practice cueing technique whenstriking said billiard training ball with the cue stick directed towardsaid inner core in order to impart spin or no spin while limitingdeflection to said billiard training ball.
 4. The billiard training ballof claim 1, wherein said inner core appears larger to the human eye thanit actually is.
 5. The billiard training ball of claim 1, wherein saidinner core has an actual diameter of between 0.71-0.75 inches (18-19mm).
 6. The billiard training ball of claim 1, wherein said billiardtraining ball is approximately the same weight as a standard cue ball.7. A method of using a billiard training ball having an opaque andtranslucent round inner core and a transparent and translucent outercovering, comprising the steps of: aligning a cue stick with thetraining ball; and striking the training ball with the cue stickdirected toward the round inner core in order to import spin or no spinwhile limiting deflection to the training ball.
 8. The billiard trainingball of claim 2, wherein said inner core appears larger to the human eyethan it actually is.
 9. The billiard training ball of claim 2, whereinsaid inner core has an actual diameter of between 0.71-0.75 inches(18-19 mm).
 10. The billiard training ball of claim 2, wherein saidbilliard training ball is approximately the same weight as a standardcue ball.
 11. The billiard training ball of claim 3, wherein said innercore appears larger to the human eye than it actually is.
 12. Thebilliard training ball of claim 3, wherein said inner core has an actualdiameter core of between 0.71-0.75 inches (18-19 mm).
 13. The billiardtraining ball of claim 3, wherein said billiard training ball isapproximately the same weight as a standard cue ball.
 14. The billiardtraining ball of claim 1, wherein said inner core has an actual diameterof 1.06 inches (27 mm).
 15. The billiard training ball of claim 1,wherein said inner core has an actual diameter of 0.98 inches (25 mm).16. The billiard training ball of claim 2, wherein said inner core hasan actual diameter of 1.06 inches (27 mm).
 17. The billiard trainingball of claim 2, wherein said inner core has an actual diameter of 0.98inches (25 mm).
 18. The billiard training ball of claim 2, wherein saidinner core has an actual diameter of 1.06 inches (27 mm).
 19. Thebilliard training ball of claim 3, wherein said inner core has an actualdiameter of 0.98 inches (25 mm).
 20. The billiard training ball of claim1, wherein said inner core has a greater density than said outercovering.
 21. The billiard training ball of claim 2, wherein said innercore has a greater density than said outer covering.
 22. The billiardtraining ball of claim 3, wherein said inner core has a greater densitythan said outer covering.
 23. The billiard training ball of claim 7,wherein said inner core has a greater density than said outer covering.